Written Answers Friday 21 January 2011

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employers applied for assistance from the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme in 2009 and have applied in 2010, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) budget for and (b) spend on the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme was in 2009-10.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget for the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme is in 2010-11 and how much is committed.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices were assisted under the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme in 2009 and have been in 2010, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices had or have had their apprenticeships terminated due to their employer going into administration in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010.

Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.

Child Welfare

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has not considered the report of the short-life working group on school meals and clothing grants in the 21 months since it was submitted.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the report of the short-life working group on school meals and clothing grants before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has not published the report of the short-life working group on school meals and clothing grants and when it will be published.

Adam Ingram: Consideration of the report has taken place in the context of the Draft Budget 2011-12 and has now concluded. It has been decided to publish this report on 24 January 2011. Ministers note the recommendations and that the majority of local authorities already provide a school clothing grant at a threshold at least as generous as that proposed in recommendation 7.1 of the report.

Disabled Children

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the key findings of the report by For Scotland’s Disabled Children, Setting the Scene .

Adam Ingram: For Scotland’s Disabled Children (FSDC) is a lead partner, along with Scottish Government and COSLA, in a national review of services for disabled children undertaken in 2010 and due to be published shortly. FSDC’s baseline survey, Setting the Scene , was a key source for this review and will remain central to its work with plans to update it on an ongoing basis.

Drug Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent abstinence-based alternative treatments to methadone are available to NHS patients, in light of evidence of the impact of methadone on the brain revealed by the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Fergus Ewing: Information on the availability of specific abstinence-based treatments to NHS patients is not held centrally.

  However, the National Drug Treatment Waiting Times Framework collects information on the number of offers of different types of treatment made to clients on a quarterly basis. This framework provides some detail on the range of services which are available:

  For the first three quarters of 2010 (1 January to 30 September) there were:

  5,811 offers of appointment for structured preparatory intervention;

  5,145 offers of appointment for community rehabilitation;

  3,305 offers of appointment for prescribed drug treatment, and

  496 offers of appointment for residential rehabilitation made across Scotland.

  These figures indicate that prescribed drug treatments (including methadone) are by no means the only, or most common, type of treatment offered to clients.

  It should be noted that not all those offered an appointment may enter treatment and once they are being treated within a service, they may receive different interventions later that are not recorded in the waiting times system.

  Further information can be accessed via the Waiting Times Framework at the following link:

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/wtpilot/reports.htm.

  The Scottish Government recognises it is important that a range of drug treatment and support services, including abstinence based programmes, are available locally to support people with drug problems towards recovery and a drug-free life. Supporting people towards recovery is the underpinning principle of the national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery.

  The Scottish Government does not promote one form of treatment over another. Decisions about the most appropriate type of treatment to prescribe in each case are for clinicians and practitioners, in discussion with their clients and in line with national prescribing guidelines and the British National Formulary, which is used by clinicians to support prescription of medication and the management of a patient’s condition. It is important that individuals are offered the type of treatment which best suits their needs and circumstances, based on a person-centred treatment and support plan.

  To support the delivery of recovery-focused treatment and support services, this government has made record investment in frontline drug treatment services. This investment, allocated to NHS boards, totalled £81 million between 2008-09 and 2010-11. Funding for frontline drugs services in 2011-12 has been protected and will be maintained at 2010-11 levels (£28.6 million), subject to parliamentary approval. It is for local partners to use this funding to support the development and delivery of recovery-focused treatment services in their area, based on an assessment of local needs and priorities.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the statistics for local authority teaching posts and teacher pupil ratios for primary 1 to 3 are collected.

Michael Russell: Teacher and pupil census data is gathered during the autumn term each year. The resulting statistical bulletins were published on 27 November in 2009 and on 1 December in 2010.

Fire Service

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the frontline service provided by the Fife Fire and Rescue Service will be maintained despite the recruitment freeze, reduced numbers of operational firefighters and continued budget pressures on the local authority.

Fergus Ewing: In our statement on 12 January 2011, we set out the Scottish Government’s ambitions for improving the performance, local accountability and financial sustainability of Scotland’s fire and rescue services.

  I understand that Fife Fire and Rescue Service is now facing cuts in its funding which may have an impact on frontline delivery this year.

  Operational decisions are a matter for individual fire authorities. However, this situation clearly demonstrates why the Scottish Government is about to consult on options for structural reform of the Fire and Rescue Services. Only by doing so will we ensure that the frontline services that are of importance to the public in Fife, and throughout Scotland, are protected.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what audits, inspection or monitoring are being undertaken of non-attendance of children for NHS appointments and what guidance has been issued to clinicians regarding transmitting information on such cases.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on did not attend (DNAs) rates is published each quarter by ISD Scotland on its Acute Activity website at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4150.html . The information in not broken down by age group. Boards are expected to review, audit and monitor DNA rates in their hospitals, including children’s hospitals, and to understand the reasons why patients are missing appointments and to take actions to alleviate these.

  New national guidance for child protection published in December last year contains advice to all agencies including NHS boards, for dealing with situations where parents or carers fail to engage with services. Although it does not include specific guidelines for clinicians, it advises that all agencies should have protocols in place to deal with non-compliance, such as missed appointments.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in response to the recommendations in the Limited Review of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 .

Shona Robison: A public consultation seeking views on the recommendations contained in the review group’s report was carried out by the Scottish Government over August/November 2009. A Scottish Government report on summary of responses was published in March 2010.

  The formal Scottish Government response to the McManus Review Report was published on 1 October 2010. That response indicates how ministers would intend to take forward the issues relating to advance statements, advocacy, named persons, medical matters and tribunals (all of which were covered in the review group’s review of the legislation).

  The full Response by the Scottish Government to each of the original recommendations by the review group may be found on the Scottish Government Mental Health Division law website pages:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/mental-health/mhlaw/mhareview.

  As indicated in the response, primary legislation would be required to take forward some of the agreed recommendations, others will require secondary legislation, whilst certain other recommendations would be taken forward by means of policy initiatives (such as guidance). It is intended that any amendments to the 2003 Act will be taken forward as part of a future legislative programme.

Ministerial Correspondence

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers, or officials acting on their behalf, have written to conveners to clarify or correct oral evidence given at committee in each year since 2005, broken down by (a) committee and (b) minister.

Bruce Crawford: This information is not recorded by the Scottish Government.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were, other than rail staff being unable to get to work, for the level of disruption to rail services in the central belt during the recent severe weather conditions.

Keith Brown: The recent severe winter weather resulted in the rail industry in Scotland adopting Network Rail’s Key Route strategy. This was introduced to ensure core passenger and critical freight routes on the rail network remained open with agreed amendments to the timetable and frequency. Regrettably, this did mean that in prioritising some routes the rail industry was unable to offer other routes.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for the number of (a) trains breaking down and (b) points freezing in the central belt during the recent severe weather conditions.

Keith Brown: The Scottish rail network and its rolling stock fleet experienced performance difficulties due to the sustained extreme low temperatures and high snowfall.

Rail Network

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the review of the problems caused by snow in the winter of 2009-10, whether it sought reassurances from (a) Network Rail and (b) rail operators regarding the (i) points systems being secured for operation and (ii) capacity of the rolling stock to operate in low temperature conditions.

Keith Brown: At regular rail performance meetings between Transport Scotland and the rail industry, seasonal preparedness is discussed. During 2010, ScotRail and Network Rail both outlined their plans for tackling the rolling stock and the points systems issues.

Schools

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures must be followed by a local authority in the event of the proposed closure of a pre-5 unit under the management of its education authority.

Adam Ingram: There are legal obligations on local authorities to provide pre-school education and these are set out in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc, Act 2000.

  When proposing the closure of any school, including a school based nursery, local authorities must undertake a consultation using the updated and robust process set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010

Schools

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools contain asbestos in their buildings, broken down by local authority.

Angela Constance: The information requested is not held centrally. Health and Safety Regulations, including The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, require duty holders who are responsible for the maintenance and repair of buildings in their control to manage the risks arising from asbestos. In the case of publicly funded schools that is the local authority. The Health and Safety Executive provides advice and guidance to local authorities and others on the management of asbestos.

Scottish Government Funding

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been provided to each area data sharing partnership in each year since 2006-07, and will be provided in 2011-12.

John Swinney: The funding allocations to support area data sharing partnerships is set out in the following table:

  

Partnership
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Total


Ayrshire and Arran
£59,210
£150,000
£50,000
£259,210


Borders
£125,000
£142,550
£50,000
£317,550


Dumfries and Galloway
£124,000
£150,000
£50,000
£324,000


Fife
£112,500
£150,000
£50,000
£312,000


Forth Valley
£141,000
£143,373
£50,000
£334,373


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
£150,000
£290,000
£100,000
£540,000


Highland
£147,750
£143,708
£50,000
£341,458


Lanarkshire
£150,000
£150,000
£50,000
£350,000


Lothian
£50,000
£150,000
£50,000
£250,000


Orkney
£145,200 
£150,000
£50,000
£345,200


Grampian
£74,150
£139,073
£50,000
£263,223


Shetland
£96,800
£150,000
£50,000
£296,800


Tayside
£164,000 
£185,000
£50,000
£399,000


Western Isles
£50,000
£135,129
£50,000
£235,129



  In 2006-07 and 2007-08, funding to support area data sharing partnerships was provided as part of the ring-fenced Efficient Government Fund. From 2008-09, a small residual sum for area data sharing partnerships to fund the post of a data sharing manager, continued to be paid out as specific allocation.

  This change in the funding arrangements for 2008-09 was part of the package of measures that accompanied the concordat and the greater financial freedoms resulting from the new partnership between the Scottish Government and local government.

  No dedicated funding was provided to data sharing partnerships in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and none will be provided in 2011-12

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the reported comment of the Minister for Housing and Communities that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is "not worth a farthing".

Fergus Ewing: Mr Neil’s comments were made in his capacity as an MSP and were referring to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman’s (SPSO) performance of two years ago.

  Complaints and concerns about the SPSO have already been considered in some detail and key recommendations for improvement have already been enacted:

  By government, in measures introduced in the Public Services Reform Act 2010

  By the Parliament, in measures introduced in the Scottish Parliamentary Commissions and Commissioners Act 2010.

  Changes will build on an already improving SPSO performance. In 2009-10, there were 22% more complaints resolved than 2008-09. Over the same period the open caseload reduced by 52%. In 2009-10, there were 123 published investigation reports with over 400 recommendations about more than 300 separate issues in 50 different public sector bodies.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37464 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, what the budget for enforcing the smoke-free legislation provided by means of a block grant was for (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and is in 2010-11.

Shona Robison: £2.5 million was included in the 2007-08 local government finance settlement for enforcing the smoke-free laws. This funding, which has been maintained, was included as part of the general block grant and it is a matter for individual local authorities to allocate the total resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities.

Sport

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been targeted at sports clubs and governing bodies through the Sports Facilities Fund and what facilities have been improved as a result.

Shona Robison: Sportscotland’s Sports Facilities Fund is an application based funding programme designed to support the development, refurbishment and improvement of the stock of Scotland’s sports facilities.

  This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government as this fund is managed by sportscotland. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of sportscotland to write to the member providing the detailed operational information requested.

Sustainable Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24913 by Richard Lochhead on 17 June 2009, whether it remains committed to sustainable development as defined in the 2005 UK shared framework for sustainable development, One future - different paths.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the current and future role of the 2005 UK shared framework for sustainable development, One future - different paths.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of plans to review the 2005 UK shared framework for sustainable development, One future - different paths and, if so, what (a) process such a review will adopt and (b) consultation with stakeholders in Scotland will be undertaken.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government remains committed to sustainable development, as defined in the 2005 UK shared framework for sustainable development, One future – different paths. This commitment is reflected in the Government Economic Strategy and through a range of policy documents including our Low Carbon Economic Strategy, Energy Efficiency Action Plan, Zero Waste Plan and Scotland’s Action Plan for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

  Officials are in regular dialogue over sustainable development issues with the UK Government, Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland Assembly. While this has not included discussion of the role of One future - different paths, we understand there are no current plans to review the document.

Weather

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many abandoned vehicles were removed from the (a) M8, (b) M74, (c) M77, (d) M80 and (e) A80 during the weather disruption on (i) 6 and (ii) 7 December 2010.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.